Dogs Think That Every Day is Christmas

Short and sweet - I was thinking that this was going to be something else entirely - but this book is straight outta left field. That isn't to say that I didn't enjoy it - I did - it was just so unexpected. The book opens with a with an introduction and confession about how he wronged his dog Pete when he was a child and has never fully been absolved for it - then follows the poem "Dogs Think That Every Day is Christmas" that is not as child friendly as these amateurish illustrations would lead you to believe. An odd but endearing little book from the master of sci-fi.

Wrapped With a Beau

Very steamy, very predictable. Good holiday fun! Longer review coming soon - just want this in before the new years!

House of Ash and Bone

A little on the cheesy side, but definitely dark. This read like a middle grade horror novel but with plenty of foul language. When Josephine and their family find out they have inherited a big old house in Canaan; the news couldn't have come at a better time. There family is in dire financial straights and this could be just the thing they need to get back on track. The house is big and creepy and better than they expected - there are five big bedrooms, one for each daughter and the rooms seem perfectly suited to each of them. So why does Josephine feel ill at ease? Soon her memory starts to go foggy and soon she starts to suspect that they aren't the only ones living in the house. Genuinely creepy at moments, but there was somehow both a lot and not a lot going on at the same time. Just an ok novel with a meh ending. 

The Boys from Biloxi

Why have I waited so long to read a John Grisham?!? I was thoroughly engrossed in this legal thriller and it wasn't as "literary" or "legally" as I thought it might be. It was very straightforward and the plot kept me engaged. Biloxi wasn't just known for it's coastal beauty and fishing, it was also known for its vices and corruption. The police and judges were in bed with the mobsters; taking cuts from the illegal drinking, gambling, and prostitution. Two young boys were raised in this environment and they couldn't lead different lives; once friends and athletes the two grow apart after high school and find themselves at opposite sides. One will become a lawyer who idealizes his father and the work he is doing to clean up Biloxi; the other a thug and mobster, one who also idolizes his father and the "empire" he built. Fast paced, I liked how this story spans over decades. The city of Biloxi also feels like a character. I definitely need to read more Grisham!

Unhinged

There's nothing like ending a great reading year with a little bit of smut. And what bizarre smut this was. A door (yes a door) starts to fall for the woman that lives in the apartment he guards. He starts to really fall for her and watches her every move. Soon he realizes that the landlord is up to no good and he wants to protect her from his evil advances. But how can he do that when he can't move on his own? One wild dream later and Tana is lubing up the doorknob (OW!). Is this how he can protect her? Wild and ridiculous. Though honestly.... I could have done with a little more door sex, lol. 

The Treehouse Library

The 5th installment of the Pages and Co. series, is good, but not my favorite. The first few were so good that it's hard to come close to that bookish magic. The Treehouse Library is the second book in the series that focuses on Milo, and now he's the most important kid because he controls the Quip, a magical train that runs on stories and imagination. His uncle, the real conductor of the train is unconscious and poisoned. Milo and his new friend, Alessia, must try to find the cure to wake him. They take the train and go looking for the Botanist, if anyone has a cure it must be here. Whimsical and fun. This series is perfect for book lovers!

Notes From the Porch

Short and sweet, this little collection of short stories can easily be read in an hour so. Ranging from observations about his seven year old neighbor, to blue herons, to the loss of his daughter, the stories run the gamut of emotions and of brevity. Written during the pandemic, the stories carry the mark of learning to adapt to less human interaction; while still remaining charming and heartfelt. Cute, but not a timeless collection that you would re-read over and over.